Kindred Connect
CHILDREN'S CONTACT SERVICEK
indred Connect is a private Children's Contact Service, operating on the northern side of Brisbane.
We offer an affordable, user-pay alternative for parents seeking Supervised Contact and Supported Changeovers for their children, and provide families a safe, secure, convenient and compassionate service.
Kindred Connect was established in 2012, created out of community need, and, in response to lengthy waiting lists for, (often inadequate), government funded services.
We support separated parents and their children in establishing and maintaining positive, safe and healthy contact, which remains vitally important for the happiness and well-being of all involved, and crucial to the child’s emotional health and future.
What is a Children's Contact Service?
Who might use a Contact Service?
In many cases, the use of such services, are part of orders of the Federal Circuit or Family Law Court. Other families seek out Children’s Contact Services such as ours voluntarily.
What is the role of a Children's Contact Service?
- To provide a safe, neutral and child-friendly meeting place where parents and children can enjoy quality time together
- To facilitate contact between children and their separated parents, especially where contact has become limited or non-existent
- To assist families experiencing post-separation conflict to arrange and enjoy contact visits, minimising stress for everyone involved
- To arrange and facilitate smooth changeovers of children from one parent to the other – with no contact between parents, where none is desired
- To promote and safeguard the safety and welfare of participating children and vulnerable other
- To assist and support families experiencing conflict regarding parent-child visits
- To assist parents, where appropriate, to become independent in managing contact arrangements in a safe and positive way
About Our Team
Kindred Connect comprises a team of dedicated, experienced and qualified professionals - united in our commitment to upholding the rights of the child.
We are committed, individually and collectively, to delivering Services of the highest standard. As a private Service, we voluntarily comply with the guidelines, processes and protocols, required of government-funded children’s contact services.
We are committed to the safety and well-being of children and their parents.
We are experienced professionals with qualifications in social work, psychology, community development and early childhood education.
We have extensive experience in complex family work and we understand the necessity of firm boundaries within professional relationships.
Our professionalism is readily seen in the consistent, thoughtful, dedicated application of our policies and procedures in every service we provide.
What To Expect
Mission
Collective Goals- To maintain a safe, secure environment
- To promote enjoyable and positive experiences of family contact
- To minimise the negative impacts of separation upon children
- To reduce the burden on government-funded Children’s Contact Services, and reduce their waiting lists
- To assist parents in moving towards self-managing family contact arrangements
- To support parents and children in re-building relationships
- To maintain and develop professional networks, promoting collaboration which improves outcomes for families
Neutrality
SUPERVISORS- We will not side with either parent or any other person involved
- We will not advocate on behalf of one parent over the other
- We will remain independent from any parental dispute
- We will provide factual observational reports, without judgement
- We will acknowledge conflicts of interest and will avoid them
- We treat all participants with respect and compassion
How We Work
Our primary focus is upon the child’s needs, with the firm belief that every child has the right to adequate opportunity for meaningful relationships with parents, with siblings, with extended family members and others who are significant in the child's life.
We understand the importance such relationships have for all children, in developing a strong and healthy sense of identity and belonging.
We are committed to maintaining a professional and caring service, in safe, neutral, child-focused environments.
We are proud of our work and the way we do it, and openly welcome any audit or review, by any authority or referring professional, whether in casual discussion or in more formal and comprehensive form.
To Children
We are committed to protecting children, and our primary concern is the safety and well-being of children and young people
We will intervene if a child is considered at risk of harm, or if contact is assessed as no longer in their best interests
We reserve the right to cancel, reduce or terminate contact if it is felt to be in the best interest of the child
We take responsibility for refusing any case which would place a child or parent at reasonable risk
We believe it important for the children involved that there be no preferential treatment shown either parent
We believe it the right of every child:
- To be listened to and to have his or her wishes and feelings given due weight
- To have regular contact with both parents
- To have healthy, loving relationships with both parents
- To be treated with respect, warmth, friendliness and acceptance
- To be treated as an individual, with his or her own feelings, thoughts and wishes, and to be given honest and age-appropriate explanations for what will occur during contact and/or changeovers.
- To feel safe, secure and free to enjoy these times, and to receive support and care before, during and after contacts
To Parents
We are committed to protecting every parent’s interests, their physical safety and their emotional well-being
We are committed to honest communication and maintaining transparent processes at all times
We strive to assist parents to understand and appreciate the rationale for, and the maintenance of, our service’s child-focused conditions and procedures
We believe in every parent’s potential for developing greater insight into how to best meet their children’s needs, to develop practical experience in doing so
We believe every parent has the right:
- To receive our services without discrimination
- To be protected from inappropriate behaviour by any other person
- To have the opportunity to discuss any concerns, and to have them resolved wherever possible
- To feel safe, secure, accepted and valued within their family and community
- To be treated with respect and without judgment
- To be properly informed as to the limitations of confidentiality
- To receive sufficient information to make informed decision
